Saturday, September 29, 2012

Eight Immortals Cane Form

Here is a T'ai Chi Ch'uan Cane form that I enjoy practicing and have taught to many of my students: The Eight Immortals Cane Form. Created by Master Jesse Tsao from San Diego, California. Part I of this cane form is based on the Yang style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. This form has 36 movements. Traditional Tai Chi Eight Immortals Cane, Routine One. Demonstrated by
Master Jesse Tsao. Instructional DVD, 64 minutes. Produced by
Tai Chi Healthways,
San Diego, 2008. Routine One is based on the Yang Style of Taijiquan.
Master Tsao developed this cane form himself, with grandmaster Zhu Tiancai's
support.

Way of the Short
Staff. By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S. A comprehensive guide to the
practice of the short staff, cane, jo, walking stick, gun, zhang,
whip staff, 13 Hands Staff, and related wood short staff weapons. A
detailed and annotated guide, bibliography, lists of links, resources,
instructional media, online videos, and lessons.
Includes use of the short staff and cane in martial arts, self-defense, walking
and hiking. Separate sections on Aikido Jo, Cane, Taijiquan cane and
staff, Jodo, exercises with a short staff, selected quotations, techniques,
selecting and purchasing a short staff, tips and suggestions, and a long section
on the lore, legends, and magick of the short staff. Includes "Shifu
Miao Zhang Points the Way." Published by Green Way Research,
Valley Spirit Taijiquan,
Red Bluff, California. Updated on a regular basis since October, 2008. Related to Mike's popular webpage on the
Staff.

Toju Zenchu brandished his staff before Daoist Shifu Miao Zhang
and challenged him "Miao Zhang, speak and you get
whacked with Nanten's
staff.
Do not speak and you still get whacked with Nanten's staff."
Shifu Zhang stood up quickly, lifted his cane
strongly in defense, and
quietly said, "Yunmen's shit stick stinks and Nanten's staff is cracked! I am leaving now to take my
evening walk. Goodbye."